Photography (1)

[thomas]

Hi Caite!

Great pictures of the festival! Here in Germany we also have some medieval festivals in summer but usually there are a big market, some games, shows and live music in the evening. I've never seen a festival like this where there is a whole village built.
That's an eye-opener! Looks like you had a very funny day.

Thomas

[thomas]

Hi!

Like promised, Caite, here are some pictures of the hot-air balloon event from yesterday. The event is called "Warsteiner Internationale Montgolfiade 2006" in the small town Warstein. Here's the website: www.warsteiner-wim.de/ Sorry, only in German. :-(

The first balloons getting started. Looks very busy.


A balloon from its bottom side.


The green guy I liked most. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif Maybe he get's sick from flying that's why he's so green.




This is a much smaller one steered with remote control, and a little teddy bear as passenger. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif


When it's getting dark there is a show called "Nightglow" where all the balloons start their burners. Unfortunely yesterday it was too windy for this so here is a picture from last year.


But at least the small one was glowing yesterday.


Due to the wind the "Nightglow" was without balloons this year. Also impressive. There was classical music played during the show including "May it be". But just the Enya version, not Hayley's one ... Nobody's perfect! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif


And fireworks in the end! Can you ask for more? ... I guess not.




Thomas

[Steve H]

Great pictures, Thomas and Caite,

Thanks for sharing them with us.

I Have been trying to get some good pictures of a barn owl that flies about behind our house, the trouble is he is quick and he only comes out at dusk, not the best time for good photography, these are the best so far, taken with a Sigma fixed 400mm lens, on a Minolta 5D.

Steve H

[Mark]

HI Caite

What great photos and a fantastic venue ! Richard's right, it also reminds me of Warwick Castle, which is not too far from where I live. Its a shame it rained but I am sure that it didnt spoil your enjoyment.

Happ y birthday for Wednesday. Have a really great time.

Lots of Love
Mark xx

[Joe]

Hello Thomas...

Thanks for sharing the pictures from the hot-air balloon event in Warstein! There are so many colors and shapes to each balloon...you've captured a few in some wonderful angles!

Regards,
Joe


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[Joe]

Hi Steven H

That is a great pic of that barn owl ...even with the low light and fast-moving subject.

Great job & thanks for sharing
Joe

[graemek]

Thanks Thomas, Caite & Steve for your very
interesting pics.
Caite (Happy Birthday for Wednesday by the way) I notice a Bratwurst sign on one of your town centre pics. Does that mean there an old German settlement in that town?
Thomas, thanks for your translation note re the coming German tour. I thought what was said to describe Hayley showed a bit of soul & individual recognition so therefore enjoyed doing the translation.
I noticed among the baloon pics the TÜV sign. It reminded me of my time in Hamburg & having to register my car in the local
TÜV establishment.
Steve, I like your Barn Owl & appreciate the difficulty of snapping
a flying bird with insufficient light & not knowing which way he's going to go next.
I'm still trying to get a flying Pelican shot here. I have a few but
they're just not good enough to post.


The following is a Pardalote & lives at the end of our garden.
He & his wife have dug a ~1m. long tunnel into our mulch heap
& sit inside taking turns warming the eggs.
The fact that he is on guard duty here means he's easier to take
pics of. (bad english)
His size (length) is about 60% of a CD dia.





As you can see he is a really beautiful little bird. He also has a voice out of proportion to his size.
Added to that he is also a very peaceful gentle little thing.
Now who does that remind me of?
Enjoy...Graemek

[Joe]

Hi all,

My family and I had the opportunity to see a New York Yankees baseball game this past Saturday. Our church organized a bus trip at a reasonable cost.

Saturday was the day that once-hurricane Ernesto travelled up the coast. We were travelling east, right into its 40 mph wind gusts and pelting rain. Also I witnessed several large trees coming down right in front of us. We even ran a few small tree trunks over.

The rain let up as we walked several blocks to Yankee Stadium. The security was tight; hats had to be taken off and looked into, large and a few random handbags searched and cell phones covers were to be open and examined. Some people wearing ponchos or heavy raingear were subject to a hand-held x-ray check. Luckily the first 18,000 fans were given a knit hat which came to good use. Considering there were 54,000 people who attended this game!


We made the trek to our seats. They were up quite high; high enough to be protected from much of the wind and rain under the stadium's partial roof overhang.

New York Yankees v. Minnesota Twins, 1:05 PM


I was really impressed by the zoom lens on my camera; the above pic of home plate was over 450 feet away!


Unfortunately, the heavy winds and drizzle made most people relocate to the highest row in the stadium. I was able to touch the roof where it met the wall and could look out through the small windows circling below the stadium's roof.

With one inning left, and the Yankees down by five runs, the umpires decided to call for a rain delay and the field was soon covered by the huge plastic tarp. Our group decided it was time to leave and head back to the bus. We were not going to sit out the delay...which might have been hours. It was a slow walk down the many ramps to reach street level. I wish I took pictures of my family in their rain ponchos!

Under the protection of an elevated train platform, our walk back to the bus wasn't too bad. Just as we approached the bus and took off our rain gear, we learned from the bus driver that the game was ended early due to the heavy rain.

We arrived home early, thanks to the help of the pummeling east wind.

[Caitlin]

Wow! This thread certainly has been busy!

Thanks Thomas for sharing your photos. I love all the colors. My favorite shot is the one from underneath. Very cool! Though the remote controlled one is pretty neat too, it reminds me of a lamp!

Steve,
Those are great shots of the owl even if they were hard to take. I really like the one in the tree, it gives you a sense for its size.

Graemek! Those photos have stunning clarity to them. Wonderful. The contrast between the sky, the buds on the trees and the coloring of the birds is great. Thank you so much for sharing!

Joe- that was a great game wasn't it. Only joking, we were SO surprised to find out the score. I'm glad you weren't harmed as Ernesto released its fury on you.

Oh yes, and thank you all for your birthday wishes.
<3 Caite

[Caitlin]

Renaissance Festival Grounds

Hi everyone!
I didn't realize my trip would cause such an interest! The "village" is up year-round. The detail is exquisite. Oh, and that tower that reminds you of Warwick Castle? That's for rockclimbing! Yes, the Renaissance Festival is a mix of old a new, but it's all good fun.
As for the bratwurst and German settlement. I'm aware that we had mainly Scandanavian settlers in Minnesota, but now there are quite a few Germans too.

For general information the fair runs Weekends and Labor Day August 19-October 1st and Friday September 29th 9am-7pm. I do plan on going at least once more and I believe I'll be going dressed up. I've got my choice of Highland Fling weekend September 9-10 or the Irish Heritage Festival September 16-17.

Now that I'm looking at the events listed I might as well go both weekends. I can be a part of the Minnesota Coalition of Scottish Clans, Highland Games, Highland Dance Exhibitions, Sheep Herding Demonstrations, and Pipe and Drum bands. I had better get my sash ready!

Then I can join the Celtic Storytelling, Irish Music and Dancing, and the Cabbage Rolling Contest the next weekend!



Thanks again everyone for sharing all their lovely photos!
<3 Caite

[Belinda]

Wow caite, the next to events sound like fun,Great photo's Everyone

Have you done highland dancing

This is my daughter kim age 4,she's alittle older now 17

Belinda

[Andrew]

Dear All,

I have just been enjoying listening to my CD single of 'Amazing Grace' by Hayley with the sun beaming in through the window. Just before I put the CD back in its case (I always do so immediately! ) the sunlight reflected off the edge of the CD and cast a beautiful rainbow on the wall! I was delighted by this and have tried to capture the effect on my camera for you to enjoy too!

Regards,

Andrew

[Caitlin]

Hi Belinda!

I have only taught myself some Highland Dancing. I would really love to learn though! Perhaps I will be able to next weekend and then again in October when one of the Minnesota Scottish Festival's is held at my school.
That's a great picture of your daughter. Does she know you put it up?

<3 Caite

[Raymond]

andrew said:

Dear All,

I have just been enjoying listening to my CD single of 'Amazing Grace' by Hayley with the sun beaming in through the window. Just before I put the CD back in its case (I always do so immediately! ) the sunlight reflected off the edge of the CD and cast a beautiful rainbow on the wall! I was delighted by this and have tried to capture the effect on my camera for you to enjoy too!

Regards,

Andrew

Thank you Andrew. It is beautiful.

Raymond

[drew]

Congratulations Belinda.

I see that you are an Honorary Maestro. 500 posts. There must be a new classification just for you.